We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to the land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures and to Elders past, present and emerging.

This work is available from the Cancer Council website.

First published in May 2015. This edition published in June 2021.

ISBN: 978 1 76096 157 2

Cancer Council Victoria and Department of Health Victoria 2021 Optimal care pathway for people with pancreatic cancer, 2nd edn, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne.

Enquiries about this publication can be sent to optimalcare.pathways@cancervic.org.au.

Our thanks to the following health professionals, consumer representatives, stakeholders and organisations consulted in developing this optimal care pathway.

Professor Christopher Christophi (Chair), Surgeon, Austin Health and The University of Melbourne

Dr Richard Khor, Radiation Oncologist, Austin Health and Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre

Professor Michael Michael, Medical Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Krithika Murali, Clinical Geneticist Fellow, Victorian Clinical Genetics Services

Dr Mehrdad Nikfarjam, Surgeon, Austin Health

Ms Rose Rocca, Dietitian, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Mr Jim Siderov, Pharmacist, Austin Health

Associate Professor Odette Spruijt, Palliative Care Consultant, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Professor Robert Thomas, Special Advisor on Health, Professorial Fellow, The University of Melbourne

Ms Julia Brancato, Project Coordinator, Optimal Care Pathways, Cancer Council Victoria

Professor Chris Christophi, The University of Melbourne, Department of Surgery, Austin Health (Chair)

Professor Jon Emery, Herman Professor of Primary Care, The University of Melbourne, Western Health; Director of Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Trials Group

Mr Adrian Fox, Hepatobiliary Surgeon, Eastern Health

Associate Professor Sze Ting Lee, Nuclear Medicine Physician, Centre for PET, Austin Health

Ms Helen Mott, Cancer Support Nurse, Haematology Oncology, Alfred Health

Associate Professor Vijayaragavan Muralidharan, Hepatobiliary Surgeon, The University of Melbourne, Austin Health

Dr Mehrdad Nikfarjam, Pancreas Surgeon, The University of Melbourne, Austin Health

Ms Lucy Pollerd, Social Worker, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Ms Meg Rogers, Nurse Coordinator, Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Ms Amy Sutherland, Dietitian, Northern Health

Professor Robert Thomas, Chief Cancer Advisor, Department of Health and Human Services

Ms Kathryn Whitfield, Acting Manager, Cancer Strategy and Development, Department of Health and Human Services

Alexandra Viner, Project Manager –Optimal Care Pathways

Advance Care Planning Australia

Allied Health Professions Australia

Australasian Association of Nuclear Medicine Specialists

Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine, Royal Australia College of Physicians

Australasian Pancreatic Club

Australia and New Zealand Hepatic, Pancreatic and Biliary Association

Australian and New Zealand Gastric and Oesophageal Surgery Association

Australian and New Zealand Society of Neuroradiology

Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Care

Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre

Australian College of Nursing

Australian Medical Association

Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy

PanKind

Cancer Nurses Society of Australia

Clinical Oncology Society of Australia

Interventional Radiology Society of Australasia

Medical Oncology Group of Australia

Oncology Social Workers Australia and New Zealand

Royal Australasian College of Physicians

Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Registry

Alfred Health

Cancer Australia

Cancer Council Victoria, Strategy and Support Division

Cancer Institute New South Wales

Concord Repatriation General Hospital New South Wales

Consumer representative

Department of Health Victoria, Commissioning and System Improvement Division, Cancer Unit

National Cancer Expert Reference Group

Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne

Other stakeholders consulted to provide feedback include relevant Cancer Council committees and networks, Integrated Cancer Services, Primary Health Networks and several health services.

The multidisciplinary team may include the following members:

• care coordinator (as determined by multidisciplinary team members)*
• dietitian*
• gastroenterologist (with expertise in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and/or endoscopic ultrasound)*
• hepato-pancreato biliary surgeon*
• interventional/ hepato-pancreato biliary radiologist*
• nurse (with appropriate expertise)*
• medical oncologist*
• radiation oncologist*
• palliative care specialist*
• pathologist*
• Aboriginal health practitioner, Indigenous liaison officer or remote general practitioner
• clinical trials coordinator
• exercise physiologist
• fertility specialist
• general practitioner
• nuclear medicine physician
• occupational therapist
• pharmacist
• physiotherapist
• psychiatrist
• psychologist
• social worker
• spiritual/pastoral care.

* Denotes core members. Core members of the multidisciplinary team are expected to attend most multidisciplinary team meetings either in person or remotely.